BSPC Feature Property

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BSPC FEATURE PROPERTY

A fully upgraded Berwickshire house with an Six miles equidistant from Duns and Coldstream, the village of Swinton is well placed for commuting north to Edinburgh and south to Newcastle. However, one of the things that attracted present owners Wendy and Ian Robertson to Corbie Lea, their traditional two-storey end terraced house, was the addition of an adjoining single-storey annexe, which they realised had enormous potential to be anything from an income-generating business / holiday cottage, to a second home that could allow elderly parents or relatives to retain their independence yet still only be next door.

“In the past, I think it was used as a music studio,” says Wendy. “When we bought the property almost four years ago it had its own entrance, kitchen and shower room – but we could see that the 30ft studio space would easily make a living room and double bedroom to give me the live-in income I was looking for.”

Situated on land believed to have originally belonged to Lord John Swinton, a prominent Scottish judge, the name ‘Corbie Lea’ means Crow Wood. The wood is no longer there but what this unique property does have is the most stunning and completely private mature garden to the rear.

A detached conservatory, only recently erected, occupies a patio setting within the well-stocked garden; fully double-glazed, it makes a delightful garden/sitting room, a special place that brings the ‘inside out’ instead of the other way around. There’s also a stone-built garden store, timber shed, and greenhouse.

While the previous owners had completely upgraded the three bedroomed house (new kitchen, appliances, bathroom, travertine stone flooring and more) leaving nothing to do other than install a wood-burning stove in the living room fireplace, Wendy and Ian were able to focus on turning the cottage-style annexe into a beautiful home-from-home.

“We erected a wall to convert the main space into an open-plan living/dining room with adjoining kitchen area and separate double bedroom,” explains Wendy.

The couple also installed a new shower room and a stylish kitchen with cream units, beech-block worktops, and integrated appliances – dishwasher, induction hob and oven, microwave and fridge freezer.

The interior also has oak flooring throughout and outside, a very pretty garden, which Wendy and Ian have block paved to create a private cobble-style courtyard – the perfect place for a summer barbecue or to relax and unwind in a luxurious hot tub (available by separate negotiation).

BSPC FEATURE PROPERTY

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adjoining cottage annexe and beautiful garden The cottage has been converted to such a high standard it is currently operating as a very successful B&B business, boosted by referrals from the nearby Wheatsheaf Hotel and from being listed on the Owners Direct website. But by having disabled access it could also be a ready-made self-contained home for parents or anyone looking to provide separate living space for a family member with a disability who may want to have help close at hand.

Only a short walk from the village green and local hotel, the main house has a beautiful entrance hall with a cream polished stone floor and cream carpeted staircase. Off the hall is a large living room with a traditional deep-silled window to the front and a cosy wood-burning stove and feature fireplace. Also on the ground floor is an even larger dining kitchen with cream painted units, stone tiled splashbacks and floor, granite-effect worktops, integrated appliances (fridge freezer, dishwasher and washing machine) and a green Stanley range-style cooker that also provides hot water and powers the central heating throughout the house and cottage.

Corbie Lea House and Cottage Swinton, TD11 3JJ Offers Over ÂŁ335,000 Details on page 16

Upstairs, the carpeted landing incorporates a low level window that frames views over the garden and beyond.

There are three bedrooms on this level - the 18ft long master bedroom includes fitted wardrobes and storage plus an additional shelved cupboard.

The remaining double and single bedrooms also have built-in wardrobes, while the bathroom warrants luxury status given its quality fittings, marble wall and floor tiles and traditional-style bath with central chrome mixer taps and shower attachment.

A connecting door provides direct access into the adjoining integral garage positioned between the house and cottage, which is presently used as a workshop but which has development potential. A cupboard in the cottage could also provide an internal link to the garage and main house if required.

With the potential to generate income from the annexe, Corbie Lea is a very attractive and unusual property in a traditional village setting. Swinton has a primary school, play park, restaurant, hotel, village hall and church, while the larger towns of Duns and Coldstream provide a wider range of shops and other facilities.